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Texas State Guard SAR Members Achieve Elite NASAR SARTECH II Certification

Members of the Texas State Guard (State Defense Force) Search and Rescue (SAR) recently engaged in rigorous training and testing in Wilderness First Aid, demonstrating their expertise to achieve the National Association for Search and Rescue (NASAR) SARTECH II certification. This esteemed certification, held at Camp Maxey in Powderly, Texas, on September 22–23, 2023, is a testament to the guardsmen’s commitment to mastering the crucial skills needed for effective search and rescue operations statewide. Through a comprehensive program requiring over 200 hours of both classroom and field training spread over five months, the candidates immersed themselves in crucial areas such as survival, support, search, and rescue. The training process was exhaustive, with participants spending a night outdoors to simulate survival conditions, using hasty shelters made from tarps or ponchos. This experience was followed by exercises in land navigation, route search, area search, man-tracking, wilderness first aid, and the practice of tying rescue knots and harnesses.

Under the proficient guidance of Chief Warrant Officer 2 Craig Jacobson and Sergeant First Class Christopher Parrish, along with the support of the SAR cadre, the guardsmen not only graduated from the program but are now equipped to respond adeptly to various emergency situations across Texas. The completion of the Fundamentals of Search and Rescue (FUNSAR) course marks a significant milestone for SAR Class 0623, equipping them with the general responsibilities, skills, abilities, and the necessary equipment knowledge required during field operations in a SAR mission. With their new certification, these dedicated individuals stand ready to serve and protect their communities, showcasing not only their personal commitment but also the broader mission of the Texas State Guard in fostering safety and security throughout the state.

Texas State Guard Search and Rescue (SAR) candidates test their knowledge in Wilderness First Aid to earn the National Association Search and Rescue (NASAR) SARTECH II level certification. The SAR program is certifying TXSG soldiers to assist and partner with local jurisdictions across the state in search and rescue operations. More to come. (Photos by Cpt. Esperanza Meza)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Texas State Guard Search and Rescue (SAR) guardsmen tested their knowledge of first aid skills in Wilderness First Aid to certify as a National Association for Search and Rescue (NASAR) SARTECH II operator at Camp Maxey in Powderly, Texas, September 22–23, 2023. With over 200 hours of classroom and field training over a five-month period in major topic areas in survival, support, search, and rescue, guardsmen graduated from the program led by Chief Warrant Officer 2 Craig Jacobson and Sfc. Christopher Parrish and with the support of the SAR cadre. After a night’s sleep outdoors to simulate survival training with hasty shelters, the most common type of wilderness or emergency temporary shelters with members utilizing tarps or ponchos, guardsmen traveled to posts in land navigation, route search, area search, man-tracking, wilderness first aid, and rescue knots and harnesses to certify. Guardsmen can branch out into other challenging specializations within SAR and be better prepared to answer the call to support civil authorities during emergencies statewide. The Fundamentals of Search and Rescue (FUNSAR) course is the second, intermediate level of NASAR courses. It provides knowledge concerning the general responsibilities, skills, abilities, and equipment needed by persons who are assigned to field operations during a SAR mission. Congratulations to SAR Class 0623 (Photos by Cpt. Esperanza Meza)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Source: Texas State Guard

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